Mike Matheson Out vs. Sabres: Canadiens DFS Changes for October 13

Mike Matheson will miss Montreal’s Tuesday, October 13 game against Buffalo with a lower-body injury and remains day to day. Jacob Fowler will start in goal, while forward Owen Beck makes his season debut, according to The Canadian Press.

Tuesday’s game at the Bell Centre begins at 6:30 p.m. ET.

What changes for Montreal

Matheson has averaged the team’s second-highest ice time. His absence is more than a depth adjustment: Montreal will dress 12 forwards and six defensemen instead of Saturday’s 11-forward, seven-defenseman setup. Beck is an extra forward, not a like-for-like replacement on defense.

Lane Hutson, Noah Dobson and Kaiden Guhle were among the defensemen who practiced Monday. We are watching how Montreal redistributes Matheson’s work, but the absence alone does not establish a new pairing or power-play promotion.

DFS implications and the next decision

Remove Matheson from Tuesday’s DFS consideration. Hutson and Dobson are the first Montreal blue-liners we are rechecking for workload, not automatic upgrades without deployment evidence. Beck’s debut puts him in consideration only if his line and role justify his salary; simply dressing does not make him a top-six or power-play value.

Fowler is confirmed for this game rather than merely projected. That does not settle Montreal’s longer-term goalie rotation. Final combinations before puck drop and Matheson’s next availability update are the important remaining checks.